Stream the Debut Album Strange Constellations From Country/Folk Artist, William Matheny

West Virginia native, previous longtime keyboardist for Southeast Engine, and country/folk singer-songwriter William Matheny has put his all in his debut 11-track solo album, Strange Constellations. Out this Friday via Misra Records, the album allows Matheny to present a story through his lyrics while delivering a sound that is the perfect fusion of alt-country, rock, roots and pop. Today you can stream the album in full, exclusively here on Paste.

Written while on tour, Matheny realized he was playing music, but for someone else’s grand musical plan instead of his own. This moment was almost a revelation to Matheny as he grasped that nothing was more important than making time to create music for himself. Sneaking off to find time (sometimes even while his bandmates slept), Matheny found a sense of comfort as he wrote songs about touring, his family, coincidence and circumstance. He shares with us, “At the time, I didn't have a larger narrative arc in mind. I only knew that I hadn't written anything in a very long time and that I was enjoying the challenge. Shortly after that, Southeast Engine decided to pull into the station (or whatever train metaphor you'd like to use for 'indefinite hiatus') and, just for fun, I started recording with my old friends Bud Carroll and Adam L. Meisterhans. It started fairly casually but it quickly began to feel like a proper album and the rest of the musicians that now comprise the official group fell into place too.” Using his music as a way to tell stories, Matheny has created an album that is intimate yet playful and captivating.

William Matheny’s debut album Strange Constellations will be out this Friday, February 24th, and is available for pre-order here! Fans can also catch Matheny on the road later this week - tour dates are listed below.